Improvement in reaping-machines



UNTTED STATES PATENTA Ormea.

JONATHAN READ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN REAPlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2,488, dated March 1.2, 1842.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JONATHAN READ,of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement for lieaping; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof'.

This invention is called Reads horse-power reaper.

The nature of it consists in a cutter or cutters of peculiar shapes, with sickle-teeth upon ihe cutting-edges. These cutters are vibrated by means of a crank, acted on through a shaft by one of the supporting-wheels of the carriage, and cut the grain as they are drawn forward against it. e

To enable others to make and use my invention, 1 will proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the draw ings hereunto annexed and forming a part of this specification.

This machineis moved, like an ordinary'cart, on two wheels, which are placed back of the center to give room for the grain, when cut, to fall into the bed of the machine, as hereinafter described. The machinery is driven by gearing attached to the rear supporting-wheel, A. Several longitudinal bars, B B B, are placed' beneath the bed of the machine, and. extend from behind the axle C front to the front cross bar, l). These bars are parallel with each other, and are usedas supports for the inachinery above them. The front cross-bar, D, is placed at the front end of the machine and runs across it. The axle O is placed near the back end of thc machine. At a short distance in front of the axle is an upright plank, E, which runs parallel with the axleand thefront cross-bar, D. This plank is twelve to eighteen inches high, and stands upon its edge. The intermediate distance between the plank and the front cross-bar is occupied by the bed of the machine and the rake. On the inner side of the front cross-bar, and on the front side of the plank, are grooves G G, extending entirely l across the machine, and. in these grooves the slides of the rake work, as hereinafter described.'

The hed F is formed by slats A2 A2 A2 A2 A2, running across the bottom of the machine, immediately under the rake B2, with small spaces between them, in'which the fingers of the rake pass when drawing the grain off. Tile hed is sufciently wide to admit the longest block holds the front end of the rake-shaft To the olf end of this block is attached the lower end of the upright standard N, which, at about halt' its height, extends over the offhorse shaft, and is attached4 to the near side of the hed. From this point it continues sufficiently above the side of the bed to admit4 and hold the near end of the shaft O of the creel P. The standard N by extending over the off-horse shaft leaves room between the lower part of it and the side of the bed for the said horse-shaft to rise and fall as required by the regulating-lever l2, hereinafter described.

The creel P, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, is made with two heads, Q Q, and one or more central disks, R, with the shaft O running through the whole. The near end of this shaft is held, as already described, and its o end is held. by a standard, S. This last standard is fastened to the off side of the bed, and its lower end is attached to the off end of the front cross-bar beyond the off side of the bed. Several wires, T

T T T T, pass from one head of thecreel through the disk to the other head, and are-intended to draw the grain in upon the cutter. They may run straight across'tlie machine, as represented in the drawings, or may be placed diagonally from lthe heads to the disk, bearing outward. The near end of the Creel-shaft O runs through the standard N on the block J, and to this end of the shaft is attached a pulley, U, over which runs a band, V, connected with the back gearing, hereinafter described, and by which the creel P is turned.

The cutter Wis one piece of plate-steel, lying dat on the front cross-bar, D. The front'edge of this cutter presents long and shallow indentations or waves. These inden-tations have sickle-teeth direct and reverse on each other angle or side ofthe indentation's, so that each side cuts the grain when drawn against it. The cutter lies directly across the front end ot' the machine from the ohorse shaftto the off side of the bed. The indentations are four e '2L/iss times as long as they are deep. There is an arm or pitman, X, attached to the near end of the cutter. The pitman connects with the cutter-crank Y, which last is on the front end ot' the cutter-shaft L. The crank and pitman are of the ordinary construction, and through them the vibrating motion is given to the cutter.

The shoulders or partitionsZ Z Z Z Z, though represented in Fig. 3, may be more clearly understood from Fig. 6. They are projections of :different lengths,'some six Vinches and others twelve inches in length. The back ends of. these shoulders are set in and fastened on the top of the rst cross-bar below the cntter,and the front and pointed ends extend forward to divide the grain as it comes to the cutter. These shoulders are of plate-steel, and on either side are provided with notches or sawteeth that hold the grain while it is cut.

The rake B2 may be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 8. It is formed of two wide pieces of thin wood, to be used as slides, G2 O2. These slides are connected by two bars of wood, D2 D2, (only oneof which is seen in the drawngs,) running lengthwise of the machine. From these bars tive or more arms, E2 E2 E2 E2 E2, extend over the bed. 0n the extended end of each arm is a finger, F2 F2 F2 F2 F2, Fig. 9. The extreme edges ot' the slides pass into' the grooves G G, Fig. 8, in the front cross-bar, D,

.and the plank E, Fig. 8, and the wood of these form an angle of more than forty-live degrees with thearmsontward, though they may double up quite close to the arms inward from the ends to which they are attached. These fingers have this play so that (as will be seen and understood by reference to Fig. 9) when the rake is passed in they give to the grain that is on the bed and pass over it. The extended ends of the arms pass far enough beyond or through the oft' side of the bed as to allow these fingers to drop down when in passing the rake in they get beyond the grain. Having reached this point and fallen,they remain at an angle of about forty-five degrees, and as therake is drawn out they hold and bring out the grain on the bed of the machine. As'the rake is drawn out, when the grain reaches the Vnear side of the bedLit falls in a bundle to the ground directly behind the horse and inside of vthe near wheel, where it remains,

v the arms near the finger. In this figure (9) may` also be seen the linger as it hangs down at an angle of forty-tive degrees, the dotted lines showdepressing Vthe VfrontV end ofthe machine, VsoY v as to make the cutter W strike the grain at any given distance from the ground, as described below. The front end of this lever (which may be clearly seen by reference to Fig. 1)-is attached to the near side of the bed A' by a pin, J2, and hasp K2, and works free. On the under side ot' this lever, and near the front end, is a shoulder, L2, that rests on the ott' shaft. The other end or handle, M2, ot' the lever runs through a standard, H, already described. Holes are made in this standard to receive a movable pin that holds the handle at any given point. The horse-shafts are only fast at their back extremity near the axle. By depressing' the handle ot' the lever the shoulder is forced down upon the ot'vhorse shaft, and the bed, cutter, and rake all raised together, while by raising the handle of the lever all these are depressed, the pressure of the shoulder on the shaft being .taken off. on the horse as to bring the cutter within eight or nine inches ofthe ground, and the regulating-lever may at any moment increase this distance to two feet or more, it' required.

The near main or driving wheel A is permanently connected with a large cog-wheel, N2, which is on its inside. This cog-wheel drives a small pinion, O2. On the same shaft with this pinion is a large bevel cog-wheel, P2, that works into a small bevel-pinion, Q2, on the back end ot' the cutter-shaft L. The shaft R2 ofthe tirst pinion extends crosswise of the machine, and near its off end is a pulley, S2, connected by the cord or band V with the pulley U on the near end of the Creel-shaft O. The cord or band V passes over two small frictionrollers, T2 T2. that are held in an upright standard, U2, attached to the axle C and on a line between the said two pulleys. The near end of the rst pinion-shaft, R2, passes through an upright standard, V2, attached at the lower end and behind the driving-wheel, to the near longitudinal sill B. Above this sill is a short rave, W2, and on the inside of it is attached the lower end of another upright standard, X2, 'passing through a groove in the rave. The upper ends of these last standards, V2 and X2, are connected by a small connecting-bar, Y2, and they are used for throwing the machine in or out ofgear. There isa small wedge, Z2, which tits in the groove of the rave on either side of the standard X2. To throw the niachine into gear, the upper end of the standard X2 is pressed forward. This draws the stainlard V2 forward so that the small pinion is brought into the cogs of the large cog-wheel,

The shafts can so hang i and by placing the wedge Z2 back ofthe standard X3 the whole machine is held in gear.

The back end of the rake-shaft M is held by a bearing and cap A3 on the back cross-plank, E,and to the end ot'this shaft, beyond the bearing, is attached a crank, B3, and handle, G3, which the conductor turns to throw the rake in or out. l

Duringy the past summer I have had a large machine in the harvest-field, which operated to the entire satisfaction of a number of respectable witnessess; and as that diered in some respects from the present model, Ideem it necessary, in accordance with the sixth section of the act of Congress of 1836, to state these dit'- i ferences, although they are fully marked in the drawings accompanying this specification. On the large machine, instead ofone vibrating cutter, I have one vibrating bar, D3, Fig. v6, to which a number ot' small cutters, E3 E3, Fig. 6, are attached, each .made of plate-steel and nearly in the shape ot' a heart, the points being presented to the grain. Both sides ot'these cutters are sharp, with sickleteeth F3 F3 reversed or cutting backward. llhe back of each cutter is fastened to the top ofthe front cross-bar, D, by a bolt, G3, on which it plays freely. A little forward of the center of each cutter is another bolt, H3, connected with the vibrating bar D3, also playing freely. As the bar D3 vibrates the points of these small cutters E3 E3 are thrown to and fro, cutting the grain against the shoulders Z Z Z. The distance between the'bolt H3 and G3 is sutlicient to allow the points ot' the cutters to play nearly twice as far ns the vibrating bar D3 moves. A flat plate, O3, of thin iron rests on the cutters, and is permanently,attached to the top of the front cross-bar, D. (This plate is better seen in Fig. 1l.) Above each cuttera semicircular slot, P3, Fig. 1l, is cut through the iron plate. A small iron stud, Q3, Fig. 10, is permanently fastened to the top ol each cutter, and extends up a short distance above the iron plate through each slot.

On the top of each stud is a clearing-plate, Fig. 7,l3,ot' the same size as the cutterE3,Fig.

6, but having deep circular notches J3, Fig. 7,

on each side curved backward from the point. The back of eachclearing-plate .beyond the notches at K3, Fig-7, is bent down, so that the back end is held by the same bolt that holds the back of each cutter, passing through the bolt-hole L3, Fig. 7. By this arrangement the clearing-plates move with the cutters and throw the butts of thegrain back onto the bed F of the machine, keeping the cutters always clear ofthe falling grain.

rlhe creel P, instead of being formed with wires, as represented inthe model and Figs.

1, 2, 3, and llof the drawings, is constructed,

as represented in Figs. 5 and 12, with floats M3. From the periphery of each head Q eX- tend a number ot' arms, N3, straight, as in Fig. 5, orforming an angle of not more than twentytwo degrees with a line drawn through the,

center of each head, as represented in Fig. 12,

andthese arms lean down and forward. On the ends of these arms are placed the floats M3, of thin wood or other suitable material, extending the whole length of the creel, and wide enough to draw in the grain.

Operation: The machine being thrown into gear, and drawn'forward by horse or other power, the large cog-wheel N3 drives the small pinion 03 with its shaft R3 and the large bevel cog-wheel P3. This last works the bevel-pinion Q3 and the cntterrshaft L, while the crank Y on the front end of the cutter-shaft gives a vibrating motion tothe cutter W. The pulley S3'on the small pinion-shaft R3 starts thev cord or band V, and this, passing over the pnlley U ofthe Creel-shaft, gives a motion to the creel P which draws the heads of the grain down, bringing them to a closer contact with the cutter, which latter cuts the grain that falls lengthwise into the bed F. When a suicient' quantity of grain has fallen upon the bed the conductor turns the handle C3 of the crank B3 of the rake-shaft M, and the cords H3 H3 of the rake-pulleys G3 G3 bring out the rake B3, while the lingers F3 ofthe rake,having dropped down from the arms E3, draw out all the grain from the bed, dropping it on the ground behind the horse. The conductor then reverses the motion of' the crank B3, when sufficient grain has fallen into the bed to make a bundle, throws the rake again across the bed, the fingers F3 shutting up and passing over the grain until they get beyond it,'when,they again drop` down, and the rake is ready tor a fresh operation.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view of the near or working side ot the machine. front view ofthe same; Fig. 3, View ot' the same from above; Fig. 4, a back View; Fig. 5,

.view of the fan-eral as operated in the tield.

the manner in which the cord passes over the pulley. Fig. 10 shows one ofthe small cutters and one of the clearing-plates, with the ironV plate above the cutter. The drawing shows the manner in which all these are connected by one bolt behind, and the small stud Q3 passing through .the iron plate, and attached to the cutter below and the clearing-plate above; Fig. 11, the iron plate between the cut, ters and clearers, with its slots P3; Fig. 12, one head of the fail-creel, showing the positions of the arms and floats; Fig. 13, the cutter as' represented generally in the drawn gs and seen in the model,-beiug one cast-steel plate with indentations and sickle-teeth.

A is the near supporting and driving wheel; B B, the longitudinal bars; C, the axle; D, the front cross-bar; E, upright cross-plank;

Fig. 2f is a `of Creel-shaft; T T T T, wires of the creel; U,

pulley of the creel; V, band that carries the creel ruiming over pulleys U and S2; VJ, the cutter; X, pitmau of cutter With its crank Y; Z Z Z Z Z, shoulders attached to the front cross-bar, ruiming into and dividing the grain;

A2 A2 A2 A2 A2, slats running across the bottoni ot' the machine on the longitudinal bars B B, and forming the bed; B2, rake; C2 G2, slides of the rake; D2 D2, bars ot' the rake connecting the slides. and from which extend the arms E2 E2 E2 E2 E2 of the rake. These bars can be seen by referring to Fig. 9. F2 F2 F2 F2 F2, lingers of the rake at the ends of the arms, (see Fig. 9;) G2 G2, pulleys of the rake with their bands H2 H2; l2, regulating-lever ith its pin J2 and hasp K2; L2, shoulder of the regulating-lever; M2,handleofsaid lever,passing through slot I of upright standard H; N2,

large cog-Wheel fastened on inside oi' drivingwheel A; O2, pinion working into llarge cogwheel N2; P2, large bevel-cog wheel with its bevel-pinion Q2 on back of cutter-shaft L; R2, shaft of' pinion 02 With its pulley S2; T2 T2, friction-rollers over which passes bandVot' the creel; U2, standard to hold the friction-rollers; V2, movable standard attached to the near longitudinal bar B, and holding the near end of the pinion-shaft B2; W2, rave on near end of longitudinal bar B; X2, movable standard passing through the groove ot' the rave W2 and attachedto the inside of said rave; Y2, bar connecting standards V2 and X2, by which the machine is thrown in or out of gear; Z2, Wedge ttingeit-her side of standard V2 to hold the machine in or ont of gear; A3, cap overbearing on back plank, Fl, to hold the back end ot' rake-shaft M; B3, crank of rake-shaft with its handle C3; D3,vibrating bar, (see Fig. 6;) E3 E3, small cutters on the large machine, (see Fig. 6;) F3 F3, sickle-teeth on sides of cutters, Fig. 6; G3 G3, bolts on the back of the above small cutters; H3 H3, bolts Where the small cutters are connected with the vibrating bar D3; 13, Fig. 7, clearing-plate with its circular notches J2J3 J3; K3, spot where the clearingplate bends down to join the cutters below. This spot may be better seen in Fig. 10. L3, hole in the bent part of clearingplate to fasten it to the cutters, (see Fig. 10;) M3, oats of fan-creel, (seen clearly in Figs.\5 and 12;) N3, arms of i'an-ereel, (seen also in Figs. 5 and 12 more clearly;) O3, Fig. l1, iron plate over the cutters with its slots P3 P3 in which play and through which pass the small iron studs Q3 Q3, connecting the cutters below wit h the clearing-plates above. l

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent as my inventionl. The construction ofthe vibrating cutters with serrated edges, Whether said cutters be connected together so as to form a vibrating bar or be placed separately7 on a bar of this kind, as set forth, in combination with stationary teeth or blades serrated in a similar manner andiarranged below the former, as described.

2. The mode ot' constructing` the rake and combining it with the bed of the machine by forming it with pointed lingersv on the ends of the arms and arranging the fingers in spaces formed in the bed, as set forth.

3. The manner of discharging the gra-in from the bed by means ot' said rake and in the manner already described.

JONATHAN READ.

Witnesses:

S. S. ELLIS, H. F. BEAD. 

